Viu: A hidden gem behind Palma’s old walls

Step inside Summum Boutique Hotel…

I have been to Viu Restaurant a couple of times before, yet every time I walk down Carrer de la Concepció I have the same feeling. Hidden behind the thick walls of an old Mallorcan palace, there is very little indication of what awaits on the other side. Step inside and it is quite a different story. The beautiful Summum Boutique Hotel is small, stylish and intimate, and Viu, its restaurant, feels very much part of that secret little world.

Dinner with an eclectic Palma crowd

This time I was there for a dinner we had organised for an eclectic group of journalists, media colleagues, a concierge and a couple of people from the F&B tech world. Our hosts, Miguel and Bárbara, had wisely prepared two possibilities for us: a table on the rooftop terrace and another inside in a private dining area. Mallorca’s rather unpredictable end-of-August weather soon explained why…

Cocktails on the terrace

We started upstairs on the terrace with a Mediterranean Paloma, made with tequila, Aperol, lime, hibiscus syrup and grapefruit soda. Fresh, citrusy and exactly what I wanted on a warm evening. Then a light rain arrived and our little party migrated indoors to the second location. Chef Daniel Ros Sánchez had prepared a degustation menu for us, beginning with excellent artisan bread and moving through a succession of dishes designed for sharing.

Among my favourites was the fire-roasted aubergine, served with an intense pink beetroot hummus. It was colourful, beautifully presented and a clever combination of smoky, earthy and salty flavours.

Mia’s standout dishes at Viu Restaurant

The dish I kept returning to, however, was the Iberian pork pluma, lacquered with Peking sauce and served with kumquat and bimi. Rich and beautifully tender, with sweetness and citrus cutting through the meat, this was probably my favourite of the evening. We finished with a delicate fig dessert, a suitably light ending after a very generous meal. I had expected dinner to last a couple of hours. Instead, conversation kept flowing, glasses kept being topped up and somehow we found ourselves the last ones in the restaurant. Good food helps, of course. So do lovely hosts and interesting company. Viu gave us all three. It is one of those Palma places that remains surprisingly easy to miss… and one I can absolutely recommend!

 

Images: Nelson Mendoza

Story: Mia Naprta